FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2008
Contact: Kristina Johnson
415-977-5619
House to Vote on Comprehensive "All of the Above" Energy Package
Press Briefing Call Tuesday, September 16 11 a.m. Eastern
Washington, D.C. -- Tomorrow, the House is expected to vote on the Comprehensive American Energy Security & Taxpayer Protection Act. The package, introduced by Democratic leadership, includes substantial clean energy investments, consumer protection, and a crackdown on ethics violations at the agency charged with oil and gas leasing. The compromise also includes a significant expansion of offshore drilling.
*****There will be a press briefing call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, September 16 to discuss the package in more detail. Details are at the bottom of this message.*****
Statement of Sierra Club Representative Athan Manuel
"The package offered by Democratic leadership in the House would give a boost to the clean energy solutions that will pull us out of our energy crisis. House Democrats have made a significant overture by presenting a package that includes both the clean energy provisions we need to move America forward, as well as a compromise that expands drilling off our coasts."
"We are also pleased that the bill also includes aggressive steps to crack down on ethics violations at the agency charged with overseeing oil and gas leasing on America's public lands and coasts."
"Despite the expansion of offshore drilling in this bill, House Republicans are already indicating they'll refuse to support it. For months, Republicans in Congress have held up clean energy legislation, instead calling for a 'drill only' policy that helps the oil industry but does nothing to lower gas prices, protect consumers, or solve our energy crisis."
“Now they are maneuvering to undermine this compromise energy bill, demanding more coastal waters and more public lands be opened for drilling locking us into a future where we continue to be dependent on oil and other fossil fuels. Clearly, supporters of a drill-only approach won't be satisfied until they have a bill with a single, narrow aim of increasing oil industry profits."
“To be clear, the House energy compromise isn’t perfect. It does allow expanded drilling, but at the same time, it ends major subsidies to the oil companies. The House energy package stands in stark contrast to oil-first energy policy like the Gang of Ten proposal put forth in the Senate. The Gang of Ten proposal reads like a wish list of the same outdated dirty energy giveaways that have perpetuated our addiction to fossil fuels."
"It's time to break big oil's chokehold on our energy policy. The energy package put forth in the House this week will go a long way towards doing that."
********PRESS CALL: Congressional Energy Developments 1-800-862-0963, 7DRILLING*******
What: Reporter briefing on congressional energy policy to discuss environmental priorities and the latest proposals in both the House and Senate
Who:
Athan Manuel, Director Lands Protection, Sierra Club
Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
Gene Karpinski, President, League of Conservation Voters
When:
Tuesday, Sept. 16,2008, 11:00 am Eastern Daylight Time
Call-in Info: 1-800-862-0963, Conference ID: 7DRILLING